Business After Hours with Southern Ports: Connecting industry and opportunity
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- 1 day ago
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Last night, the Esperance Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a Business After Hours event in partnership with Southern Ports, drawing around 90 attendees to the Cannery Arts Centre.
The evening brought together local business owners, industry representatives, and community leaders for valuable networking and a dynamic panel discussion on the future of the Goldfields–Esperance economy.
The event opened with a keynote address from Southern Ports CEO, Keith Wilks, who shared updates on the Port of Esperance and highlighted how regional collaboration continues to drive success across Southern Ports’ operations.
“We’re seeing mobility between our regions,” Keith said. “We have staff moving across our ports, and they’re not going to Perth; they’re coming to our regions — Albany, Bunbury, Esperance — and it’s all about the lifestyle.”
The discussion then turned to the broader economic landscape, with panellists Kris Starcevich (GEDC), Keith Wilks (Southern Ports), and Jennifer Obourne (ECCI) exploring the opportunities and challenges shaping the local business environment.
When asked about emerging opportunities for Esperance businesses, GEDC CEO Kris Starcevich emphasised the importance of steady population growth supported by housing and infrastructure:
“There are huge opportunities,” Kris said. “If we want to attract more people, services, or industry, we need to start growing steadily, supported by housing and jobs. Even incremental growth can begin to transform a community.”
ECCI Executive Officer, Jennifer Obourne, spoke about workforce development and the Chamber’s role in helping local businesses strengthen their teams and digital capability.
“Next week, we’re starting the first of many digital literacy courses, which we can provide for free thanks to the SBDC,” Jennifer said. “The first is on content creation for social media, because it’s a very busy space and businesses often don’t know what to say or when to say it. The next one will focus on staff retention. While we can’t solve a national issue, these workshops can give business owners practical, individualised support to help them succeed.”
The panel also touched on transport connectivity and workforce stability following the news that Rex Airlines, which was operating under voluntary administration for more than a year, has been purchased by US-based company Air T.
Shire President, Ron Chambers, shared his thoughts on what the sale could mean for the region:
“Having someone come in and give direction should provide more security and help address issues like fatigue management,” Ron said. “For us locally, we’re hoping Esperance, Albany, and Carnarvon all get a chance to sit at the table and be part of that conversation.”
The discussion reinforced a shared belief that partnerships between business, industry, and government are essential to building a strong and resilient regional economy.
From housing and workforce to digital capability and connectivity, the key takeaway was clear: growth in Esperance relies on collaboration and shared investment in local opportunity.
ECCI extends its thanks to Southern Ports for hosting this insightful evening, and to all who attended and contributed to the discussion.
Stay tuned for upcoming Chamber events and workshops.
